LETTER: Proud of GWU for allowing gay speaker

Published: Friday, May 9, 2014 at 12:25 PM.

In response to the article published Feb. 27 “Gay speaker at GWU sparks faith debate."

Since this article was published, much has been said on the matter. It occurs to me that most of the conversation is focused on the fact that Mr. Cody Sanders identifies as gay and as Christian. I would like to propose that perhaps everyone should take the time to learn exactly what Mr. Sanders spoke about. His entire presentation was about compassion, love, and understanding. He did not promote a "gay lifestyle;" he did not suggest that all students must accept gay people or go to hell; he did not even suggest that being gay is not a sin. Mr. Sanders opened some very interesting discussion about what the church (and all Christians) can learn from those who have been pushed to the margins of society, yet still love the Church and still practice Christianity.

For example, Mr. Sanders suggests that, when asking questions about sexuality and faith, we often ask questions that dehumanize and make LGBTQ people objects. He goes on to say that these kinds of “suspicious scrutinizing” questions only create more boundaries and that we should start asking questions full of compassionate curiosity. We must learn to open a compassionate dialogue with others so that we may learn, rather than scrutinize them.

At the beginning of his presentation, Mr. Sanders spoke about the phrase that Gardner-Webb uses on it’s seal: pro Deo et humanitate (for God and humanity). He speaks about how we often think about what God wants, and we forget about our neighbor. Mr. Sanders continues, saying that it is impossible to love God and not love our neighbor.

Mr. Sanders ends his presentation speaking about forgiveness and how we tend to think about forgiveness as forgetting.

Furthermore, there seems to be much concern that this event was held in a "chapel setting." Mr. Sanders spoke about his book in an auditorium that is often used as a lecture hall. Students were not required to attend; faculty and staff were not required to attend. It was completely voluntary, and those who were in attendance can attest to this.

Mr. Sanders was invited to speak because he is an extremely gifted scholar who is a graduate of GWU. LOTS (Life of the Scholar) hosts speakers throughout the year who come to campus to speak, and they often have different viewpoints than several in attendance. We recently had a Holocaust survivor on campus who identifies as an atheist. Are we to shun her because she was invited to speak on a Christian campus and share her stories from the Holocaust? I think not.

Some have quoted Ephesians 5:17, “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” saying that it was unwise to have Mr. Sanders speak at Gardner-Webb. Is the will of the Lord not to love your neighbor as yourself? Is the will of the Lord to persecute others? I'm not sure about anyone else, but the last time I read the Bible, the Lord didn't appreciate the persecution or judgment of others. All sin is created equal. Perhaps Matthew 7: 3-5 is fitting in this instance: "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye."

If we were to remove “gay” from Mr. Sanders’ presentation, we would find that his speech lines up closely with the teachings of Jesus (compassion, forgiveness, and love for others). And if we remember correctly, Jesus was persecuted simply because of who he said he was, and those persecuting him didn’t want to listen to what he had to say. The same seems to hold true for this situation.

As a graduate of GWU, I am extremely proud of my Alma Mater for allowing Mr. Sanders to speak on campus, because it shows that GWU is willing to have in-depth conversations and to learn from those who have different opinions.

Justin Humphries

Boiling Springs

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In response to the article published Feb. 27 “Gay speaker at GWU sparks faith debate."

Since this article was published, much has been said on the matter. It occurs to me that most of the conversation is focused on the fact that Mr. Cody Sanders identifies as gay and as Christian. I would like to propose that perhaps everyone should take the time to learn exactly what Mr. Sanders spoke about. His entire presentation was about compassion, love, and understanding. He did not promote a "gay lifestyle;" he did not suggest that all students must accept gay people or go to hell; he did not even suggest that being gay is not a sin. Mr. Sanders opened some very interesting discussion about what the church (and all Christians) can learn from those who have been pushed to the margins of society, yet still love the Church and still practice Christianity.

For example, Mr. Sanders suggests that, when asking questions about sexuality and faith, we often ask questions that dehumanize and make LGBTQ people objects. He goes on to say that these kinds of “suspicious scrutinizing” questions only create more boundaries and that we should start asking questions full of compassionate curiosity. We must learn to open a compassionate dialogue with others so that we may learn, rather than scrutinize them.

At the beginning of his presentation, Mr. Sanders spoke about the phrase that Gardner-Webb uses on it’s seal: pro Deo et humanitate (for God and humanity). He speaks about how we often think about what God wants, and we forget about our neighbor. Mr. Sanders continues, saying that it is impossible to love God and not love our neighbor.

Mr. Sanders ends his presentation speaking about forgiveness and how we tend to think about forgiveness as forgetting.

Furthermore, there seems to be much concern that this event was held in a "chapel setting." Mr. Sanders spoke about his book in an auditorium that is often used as a lecture hall. Students were not required to attend; faculty and staff were not required to attend. It was completely voluntary, and those who were in attendance can attest to this.

Mr. Sanders was invited to speak because he is an extremely gifted scholar who is a graduate of GWU. LOTS (Life of the Scholar) hosts speakers throughout the year who come to campus to speak, and they often have different viewpoints than several in attendance. We recently had a Holocaust survivor on campus who identifies as an atheist. Are we to shun her because she was invited to speak on a Christian campus and share her stories from the Holocaust? I think not.

Some have quoted Ephesians 5:17, “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” saying that it was unwise to have Mr. Sanders speak at Gardner-Webb. Is the will of the Lord not to love your neighbor as yourself? Is the will of the Lord to persecute others? I'm not sure about anyone else, but the last time I read the Bible, the Lord didn't appreciate the persecution or judgment of others. All sin is created equal. Perhaps Matthew 7: 3-5 is fitting in this instance: "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye."

If we were to remove “gay” from Mr. Sanders’ presentation, we would find that his speech lines up closely with the teachings of Jesus (compassion, forgiveness, and love for others). And if we remember correctly, Jesus was persecuted simply because of who he said he was, and those persecuting him didn’t want to listen to what he had to say. The same seems to hold true for this situation.

As a graduate of GWU, I am extremely proud of my Alma Mater for allowing Mr. Sanders to speak on campus, because it shows that GWU is willing to have in-depth conversations and to learn from those who have different opinions.